Improvement in window-blinds



M. C! WELD.

W inflow-Blinds.

Patented August I2, 18731 No. l4l,84l.

All/L r AM PHO O 'L I YHOGRAI-il/ C CO H X 1 0880846515 PROCESS,

UNITED STATES ATENT QFFICE.

MASON o. WELD, or or osrna, NEW JERSEY.

IMPRQVEMENT IN WlNDOW-BLlNDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,841, dated August 12,1873; application filed January 17, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MASON O. WELD, of Gloster, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Window-Blinds; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which Figure l is a perspective view, and Fig. 2 a vertical transverse section, showing the lower end of the blind with the lever, and the upper end with the cap. Fig. Srepresents crossscctions, showing different positions that may be assumed by the slats when adjustable 5 Fig. 4, cross-sections, showing different forms of the slats when adjustable; Fig. 5, a modification of the arrangement of the adjusting-levers.

Similar letters of reference in the accompanying drawings indicate the same parts.

The object of this invention is to provide for public use a window-blind in which the slats can be so adjusted that in some positions they will exclude light without stopping ventilation, while in other positions they will permit unobstructed vision in any direction. To these ends the invention consists, first, in constructing each slat in two leaves hinged together; and, second, in the combination of an adjusting device with the hinged leaves of the compound slats, substantially as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, A A are the side rails of the blinds, and B B are the slats. The form of the slats is susceptible of many modifications of those shown in the drawings, the essential requisite being thatthey should intercept the direct passage of a ray of light into the apartment from any direction whatever, and yet freely permit the passage of air. The form of the slats, therefore, is such that the spaces between them constitute angular or tortuous passages, against the walls of which the rays of light entering from outside impinge. To still further increase the efficiency of the device, dark light-absorbing surfaces are provided, against which the rays of light thus impinge, and they are painted, or otherwise colored, to such an extent and in such shades as to absorb more or less of the light that strikes upon them.

It will be ordiof the slats be thus colored; and the dark color may, if preferred, be mainly confined to the portions immediately adjacent to the angle or central line of the slat, and be shaded oft with lighter and more agreeable tints near the edges. My invention further consists in constructing each blind-slat of two leaves, b b, united at or along their proximate edges by means of any form of hinge that will answer the purpose, as shown at c c. The leaves on one side of the blind are all connected together by a rod, d, and those on the other side may be connected in a similar manner by a rod, 01.

Any suitable device may be connected with the rods to facilitate adjusting them. A neat and simple device for this purpose is shown in Figs. 1 2, consisting of a narrow metallic case, E, containing two levers, e e, pivoted at the center of the case and articulated to the rods d d, as shown. The front side of the case is slotted, and the edges of the slot serrated to accommodate the projecting ends of the levers and enable them to be set in any desired position. By moving one lever or the other, the system of leaves on one side or the, other of the blinds may be moved to any required position, so as to admit light from above or below or in a horizontal line, or to partially or totally exclude it, while, at the same time, either admitting currents of air freely, or excluding the same, as may bedesired.

A simple arrangement of the levers is exhibited in Fig. 5, which represents the lever e, as attached to the inner edge of one of the leaves I), and projecting past the end of the corresponding leaf 1), or through a slot in the same, the other lever being omitted altogether, or being attached to the rod d, the edge of a leaf, 1), or in any other suitable place. YVhen the levers are attached to the end of the slats. a gain 'may be made in the proximate face of the side rail A to accommodate them or either of them.

My invention is applicable to all forms of window-blinds, shades, or curtains, composed of slats, whether said slats be arranged in a horizontal or vertical position, and however they may be supported, raised, lowered, or adjusted.

I claim as my invention--- for each set of leaves, so as to give them an 1. Blind-slats constructed with two leaves independent adjustment, substantially as and hinged together at their proximate edges, subfor the purposes set forth.

stantially as and for the purposes set forth. MASON C. WELD.

2. Blind-slats composed of two leaves hinged Witnesses: together, in combination with an independent MELVILLE CHUR 0H,

adjusting rod and lever, or their equivalent, (1.1 BROWN. 

